Motor-actuated steering mechanism.



H. H. MARKER. MOTORACTUATE'D 5155mm; MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FlLtD APR.4,1914. 1,172,152,

Patented Feb. 15, 1916.

H. H. MARKER. MOTOR ACTUATED STEERING MECHANISM.

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H. H. MARKER MOTOR ACTUATED STEERING MECHANISM.

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a my i Patented Feb. 15, 1916.

QM R @N wi/bnamo H. H. MARKER.

MOTOR ACTUATED STEERING MECHANISM.

APPLICA HON FILED APR. 4.1914.

Patented Feb. 15, 1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

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:HENBY n. MARKER, or MOUNT CLEM NS, MICHIGAN, assxeNoa To PULL-MORE MOTOR TRUCK COMPANY, or DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION or MAINE.

MOTOR-ACTUATED STEERING MECHANISM.

To all whom it may concern: 1

Be. it known that I, HENRY H. MARKER, a citizen-of the United States of America, residing at Mount Clemens, in the county of Macomb and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Im rovements in Motor-Actuated Steering echanism, of which the followingis a specification, reference being had therein to-the ac companylng' drawings.

This invention relates to power actuated steering mechanisms for motor driven conveyances and its object is to provide a simple and eificient construction, arrangement and comblnation of parts 'havingcertain new and useful features, all as herein-' vehicle to which the steering mechanism embodying the invention is applied; Fig. 2

is a plan. view of .a portion'of the vehicle with parts broken away. to'disclose a portion of the steering mechanism shown in i plan view; Fig. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal vertical section through a portion of the a vehicle showingthe steering mechanism in section; Fig. 4 .is a transverse section. substantially upon, the lines X'X of Figs. 2 and 3; Fig"; 5 is a section on the line 1 -3 of. Fig. 3 of "a reversinggearing; and Fig. 6

'is a detail showing a shaft coupling inelevation.

-While the invention isshown as applied to "a motor vehicle or tractor of pecuiar construction and design, it. will be un erstood'that said'rnechanism may be applied as well to other'forms of motor vehicles'or to any other form ,of conveyances which is directed .in its movements by steering means carried thereby. A I

In Fig. l'of the drawings, 1 indicatesthe I front axle of the vehicle upon which a suitablebody 2 is supported by springs 3 secured to the axle and pivotally attached to the body. A carrying truck indicated gen orally at 4 has a forwardly extending reach 5 projecting beneath'the body 2 and attached-to said body by means of a circular member 6'fitting within a bearing opening 7 (see Fig. 4) in the bottomof' the body Specification of Letters Patent.

. and 27.

Patented Feb... 15, 1916'.

Application filed @lprile, 1914. Serial No. 829,429.

and forming a fifth wheel *Jiz'hich' is pivot-. ally connected to the reach 5 by means of a shaft 8 extending longitudinally of the, reach. The body with its attached axle is thus permitted to turn about the vertical ax1s of the fifth wheel; and to so turn the body and. axle and direct the movements of the vehicle, the fifth wheel is provided ,with

I a laterally extending arm 9 within the body and this arm is pivotally connected at itsfree end by a link 10 with a suitable travelmg nut 11 mounted upon a screw shaft-12 and guided in its movement along said shaft bysuitable guide bars 13 engaging grooves in the upper .and lower sides of the nut.

The guide bars are supported and held in spaced relation to guide the ,nut and prevent its turning, by means of brackets 14 and 15 secured in any suitable manner within the body 2. The bracket 14 carries suitable thrust bearings 16.to take the longitudinal thrust of the screw shaft and the opposite end of said shaft extends through the bearing 15 and is provided with a sprocket wheel 17 engaged by a sprocket chain 18 running over a like sprocket wheel securedto a stub shaft 19 mounted in a suitable bearing in a lateral extension of the'bracket 15. A driving shaft 20 is mounted in a suitable bearing in longitudinal alinement with the stub shaft 19 and this driving shaft is actuated by a sprocket wheel 21 on its rear end engaged by a sprocket chain 22 running over a sprocket wheel 23 on the engine or other power shaft 24 arranged adjacent to the driving shaft 20. Keyed or otherwise secured to the forward end of the shaft 20, is a cup member 25 formed with two internal faces for the engagement therewith of cone members 26 The cuphmember 25 also forms a support for one end of a driven shaft 28 which is mounted in a suitable bearing plate 29 secured within the cup member. A thrust bearing 30 is interposed between the plate 29 and a head or nut 31 on the end of the shaft 28. The cup member 25 is secured to p the shaft 20 and said shaft has a limited longitudinal movement in its bearing 32. To take the end thrust of the cup when it is moved rearwardly with its shaft, is a ihrust bearing 33 interposed between the ends of cone member 27 'has a tubular hub 34 through. which the shaft 28 extends and said bearing and the hub of the cup. The

which turns freely upon said shaft, and the cone member 26 has a hub which is rigidly secured to the shaft 28. Asuitable gear casing surrounds the shaft 28 and is rigidly supported by means of a bracket 36 with the sleeve 34 extending into the casing which containsa pair of gears 37 in mesh with the gear 38 secured upon the sleeve 34 of the cone member 27. A gear 39 similar to the gear 38 is sleeved upon an enlargement of the shaft 28 and connected thereto by suitable keys to turn therewith but permitting a free longitudinal movement of the shaft therethrough; and gears 40 within the casing in mesh with the gears 37 and the gear 39 cause areversal of the direction of motion between the gears 38 and 39 so that when the cone member 27 is brought into contact with the cup 25 and is thus driven thereby, the shaft 28 will be turned in an opposite direction through the medium of the sleeve 34 and gears 38, 39 and 40.-

A suitable coupling is provided between the forward end of the driven shaft 28 and the stub shaft 19 by providing a flange 41 on the stub shaft and an opposing coupling member 42 on the end of the shaft'28 operatively connected thereto to turn therewith but free to slide longitudinally thereof by means of keys 43 to engage key slots in the member 42. Pins 44 on the member 42 are adapted to engage suitable openings in the flange 41 and thus rigidly connect the. movable coupling member to the stub shaft, and to prevent the longitudinal movement of the coupling member and the disengagement of its pins from the openings in the flange, a cap 45 of U-shape in side elevation and channel shape in cross section is provided to fit over the upper side of and embrace the flange 41 and a corresponding flange of the coupling member. A suitable locking pin 46 is provided to hold the cap in place.

The shaft 28 is formed with a screwthreaded section 47 between the casing 35 and the coupling 42, and on this screwthreaded portion of the shaft is a nut 48 having an ear for the pivotal attachment thereto of a downwardly extending arm 49 on a nut 50 having screwthreaded engagement with a screwthreaded steering post 51. The steering post is carried by a suitable support such as the dash board 52 and is free to turn and to swing upon its support by being provided with a grooved collar 53 carried by brackets on the dash board. A suitable hand wheel is provided upon the upper end of the post by means of which it may be turned to actuate the nut 50.

It is to be noted. that the driven shaft 28 has a slight free longitudinal movement which is suflicient to bring the cone 26 into driving engagement with the cup when said shaft is moved longitudinally in a rearward direction by the turning of the hand wheel 'tion is thence 55 which will screw the nut 50 upon the steering post and, by reason of the pivotal screw shaft 12 will be so turned that the nut 11 will be shifted in the proper direction to turn the body 2 relatively to the reach 5 in a direction corresponding to the direction in which the hand wheel'55 is turned. As soon as the cone is brought into frictional engagement with the cup and the shaft 28 is actuated thereby, such turning movement will tend to draw the cone out of engagement with the cup by reason of the screwthreaded'engagement of the shaft 28 with the nut48 connected to the nut 50 on the steering post, the direction of the screw threads on said shaft being such as to cause the longitudinal movement of the shaft through the nut in the proper direction. An opposite turning of the hand wheel 55 will i to the shaft28 in such a direction that the actuate the nut 50 forwa dly and thus move forward movement of the cup brings it into frictional contact with the cone 27 and thus motion is transmitted from the driving shaft 20 by the cup to the cone and from the sleeve 34 of the cone to the shaft '28 by means of the gearing contained in the casing '35, a reversal of the direction of motion being secured by means of the gearing. Mo-

transmitted as before, by the sprocket chain 18 to the screwshaft 12 to turn the ,same in a reverse direction and cause a movement of the nut 11 which will turn the body 2 in a direction corresponding to the direction in which the hand wheel 55 is turned. I

In order to contact with its cup and cause a continued turning of the body to the limit of its movement, it is necessary to keep on turning the hand Wheel in order to maintain the endwise pressure which the nut 47 is caused to exert on the shaft by the movement of the nut 50, for the moment said pressure on. the shaft is relieved by the screwing of the shaft through will be separated and the transmission of motion from the shaft 20 will be stopped, leaving the front wheels of the vehicle in the position to which they have been turned by the travel of the nut 11 along the screw shaft.

Obviously changes may construction and arrangement of parts witnbe made in the hold either of the cones .in

the nut 48, the friction members i out departing from the spirit of the invention and I do not limit myself to the form or arrangement shown.

Having thus fully described my invention what I claim is y 1. In -a steering mechanism, a steering member, a driven shaft, means actuated by saidrdriven shaft for imparting movement to said steering member, a drivlng shaft in longitudinal axial alinement with said driven shaft adapted to impart movement thereto, and means having a variable angular relation to said driven shaft adapted to move said shaft to control the operation" of said driven shaft by said driving shaft.

2. In a steering mechanism, the combination of a 'power actuated driving shaft,

4 motion in the desired direction to the driven means for transmitting motion in either di-.

rection from the driving to the driven shaft, manually operable means having a variable angular relation to said driven shaft and adapted fortcontrolling said motion transmitting means to cause the same to transmit shaft, said means including a member to reciprocate said driven shaft by the turning.

of the driven shaft to stop the transmission of motion, a screw shaft actuated by the driven shaft, a nut on said screw shaft, and

a steering member pivotally connected to" said nut to be actuated thereby.

3. In a steering mechanism, the combination of a power actuated driving shaft, a driven shaft having a screw thread, means for transmitting motion in either direction from the driving to the driven shaft, a nut which means is controlled in its operation on the screwthreaded portion of the driven shaft'adapted to be moved to move theshaft and control said motion trasmitting means,

hand operable means having a variable angular relation to said driven shaft and adapted for moving the nut and shaft, and a steering member indirectly actuated by said driven shaft.

4, In a steering mechanism, the combin'a-- tion of a power actuated driving shaft, a driven shaft having a screw thread, means for transmitting motion in either direction from the driving to the driven'shafts, manually operable means having a variable angular relation to said driven shaft including a nut on the screw threaded portion of said driven shaft for controlling the operation of said motion transmitting means to causethe same to transmit'motion in either direction,

by said nut, and a s'teering'member indirectly actuated by said driven shaft.

5. In a steering mechanism, the combination of amotor driven driving shaft,- av longitudinally movable driven shaft having a screwthreaded portion, means for transmitting motion in either direction from the drivingshaft to the driven shaft, said means being actuated to transmit motion in the desired direction by a longitudinal motion of the driven shaft, a nut on the screwthreaded portion of the driven shaft, a hand cones and a reversing mechanism actuated by one'of said cones, and hand operable means for moving either of the cones into operative position and for moving said cones by the turning of the driven shaft.

7. In a steering mechanism, the combination of a motor actuated driving-shaft, a driven shaft in axial alinement therewith having a screwthreaded portion, a steering member, means actuated by said driven shaft for imparting-movement to said member, means] for transmitting motion from the driving to the driven shaft comprising a pair of friction cones one of which is secured to the driven shaft, and motion reversing mechanism actuated bythe other cone, anut on the screwthreaded portion of the driven shaft, and hand operable means for holding the nut against turning and for moving thef-nut to move the shaft longitudinally and bring either one of the cones into operative position.

8.. In a steering. mechanism, the combination of a motor actuated driving shaft, a

cup member secured to the end of the shaft to turn "therewith and free to move longi-' tudinallythereon, a driven shaft in longitudinal axial alinement with the driving shaft and cup member, a cone secured upon the driven shaft to engage the cup when the shaft is moved longitudinally in one direction, a cone mounted upon the driven shaft to turn freely thereon-and to engage the cup member when said cup is moved into engagement therewith by a longitudinal movement of' the driven shaft, a steering member, means for actuating said member from said driven shaft, reversing mechanism for transmitting motion to said driven shaft from the cone which is loose upon the shaft and hand operable means for moving the driven sh'a-ft longitudinally and adapted to cause said shaft to be automatically moved by a turning thereof.

, 9. In a steering mechanism, the combination of a motor actuated driving shaft, a

driven shaft supported in longitudinal alinement therewith and having a screwthreaded portion, a cup secured to one end of the driving shaft to turn therewith and free to move longitudinally thereon and 4 having connection with the driven shaft to be moved longitudinally by a longitudinal movement of said driven shaft, a' cone fixed upon the driven shaft to engage the cup, a cone loose upon the driven shaft to engage the cup, a steering member, means actuated by said driven shaft to impart movement to said steering member, reversing gears actuated by the loose cone for transmitting motion therefrom to the driven shaft, a nut on the screwthreaded portion of the driven shaft, and hand operable means for holding the nut against turning and for moving -the nut and shaft longitudinally.

10. In a steering mechanism, the combination of a 'motor actuated driving shaft, a driven shaft in longitudinal axial alinement therewith and having a screwthreaded portion, means fortransmitting motion in either direction from the driving to the driven shaft including a pair of friction cones and reversing gearing actuated by one of the cones, said driven shaft being adapted to be moved longitudinally and having operative connection with one of said cones and saidcup to move the same into operative engagement. a nut on the screwthreaded portion of the driven shaft, a steering post having a hand wheel and provided with a screw thread, a nut on the steering post operatively connected to the nut on the driven shaft, a steering member, and means for transmitting motion from the driven shaft to said member.

11. In a steering mechanism, the combinac tion of a pivotallysupported steering arm, a screw shaft, a nut on said shaft," guides for the nut, said nut and arm being operatively connected to turn the arm by a movement of the nut on .the shaft, a motor actuated driving shaft, a driven shaft, means for transmitting motion from the driven shaft to the screw shaft, said driven shaft having a screw thread, means for transmitting motion in either direction from the driving to the driven shaft, said means being controlled in its operation by a longitudinal movement of the driven shaft, a nuton the screwthreaded portion of the-driven shaft, and hand actuated means for moving said nut and shaft longitudinally to control the operation ofthe means for transmitting motion from the driving to the driven shaft.

' 12. In a steering mechanism, the combination of a fifth wheel, a laterally extending arm on said wheel, a casing within which the arm projects, a screw shaft mounted in bearings in the casing, guides adjacent to the screw shaft, a nut on the screw shaft engaging said guides and operatively connected to said steering arm, a cover member for the casing, a motor actuated driving shaft mounted in bearings on the cover, a driven shaft carried by the cover, a stub shaft mounted in a bearing on the casing in axial alinement with the driven shaft,

means for transmitting motion from the stub haft to the screw shaft, means for connecting and disconnecting the end of the driven shaft and the stub shaft, means for transmitting motion in either direction from the driving to the driven shaft, and manually operable means for controlling said means for transmitting motion from the driving to the driven shaftI 13. In a steering mechanism, the combination with a steering member, a driving shaft,-

with said driven shaft and adapted to transmit movement to said driven shaft in either direction, and manually operatable means having an angular relation to both of said shafts for controlling the operation of said driven shaft.

15. In a steering mechanism, a steering member, a power driven shaft capable of rotative and reciprocable movement, means actuated by rotative movement of said shaft for imparting movement to saidsteer; ing member, and means actuated by reciprocable movement of said shaft for controlling the operation thereof.

Intestimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

7 HENRY H. MARKER.

Witnesses:

LEWIS E. FLAnnERs, ANNA M. DoRR. 

